Piano truck



May- 11 1926. 1,584,250

w. c. STEPHENSON ET AL PIANO TRUCK Filed August 11, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 7; J9 J J6 Han/r9 6- Ooterb @7 1 May 1131926. 1,584,250

W. C. STEPHENSON ET AL PIANO TRUCK Filed Augusfiall. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 11, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. STEPHENSON, F WOBURN, AND HENRY G. OSTERBERG, OF BELMONT,

MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO TRUCK.

This invention pertains to the manufacture of pianos and relates more particularly to an improved truck for supporting the case of a grand piano, during the performance of the various operations incident pletionof the instrument.

When the case of a grand piano is completed by the case department of the factory, it is usually mounted upon temporary or factory legs to support it during the subsequent operations as it is so cumbersome and unwieldly that it is very diflicult to handle unless provided with some form of support. The application of factory legs and their subsequent removal requires considerable time and care and as the case is subject to much moving and handling during the completion of the piano, thesetemporary legssoon give out under the strains constant danger of tearing out the fastenings by which they are attached to the case and thus damaging the latter.

The case is mounted horizontally or in its normal position upon its temporary legs and can not readily be tipped or turned on edge while being moved from place to place, or for convenience in performing the necessary work upon it. It is thus often difficult to move it from one department of the factory to another, this being particularly true in the older factories designed primarily for making upright pianos and having narrow passa eways and small elevators and which are thus ill adapted to meet the present day increasing demand for grand pianos. Even though the passageways and elevators of the factory be of sufficient size to permit the ready movement of grand pianos, the storing of the incomplete instruments intermediate the various stages of their manufacture, particularly when. storage space is valuable, is a serious problem, for by reason of the shape and size of such instruments it is impossible to pack them horizontally with economy of space, while the character of the instrument, particularly when pro-' vided with temporary legs, forbids any attempt at piling them in vertical tiers.

to the com-.

to which they are subjected, while there is ly the highest attainment of the wood finishers art, it is extremely important to avoid bruising, scratching or otherwise injuring the case while the piano is going through the various manufacturing processes, but the very shape, size and weight of the instrument lnvite defacement and make it necessaryto use the utmost precautions in handling it and 111 moving it from place toplace.

The present invention was devised with the principal object of avoiding the above difliculties incident to the handling and storing of grand pianos during the process of manufacture, its more specific objects being to provide a movable truck upon which the piano case may be mounted and upon which it may be supported during substantially all of the subsequent operations; to provide such a truck having adjustable clamping means capable of firmly securing cases of any of the various standard sizes to the truck in an expeditious manner and without injuring or marring the case; to provide a truck so designed that the'piano case may without detaching it from the truck be swung from normal horizontal position to a substantially vertical position; to provide a truck of such shape and dimensions that when the piano case is vertically disposed the truck, together with the case, will occu- 8 py substantially no more floor space than an upright piano, the projected area in plan of the vertically positioned case falling within the periphery of the base, the latter being of substantially the minimum superficial area permissible for stability; to providea truck ofsuch design that when the piano case is vertically disposed it is in stable equilibrium and does not tend to resume its horizontal position; to provide a truck which adequately protects the case from injury when the case is vertically disposed for transportation or storage; to provide a truck which does not substantially interfere with the operations to be performed upon the exterior or interior of the piano and which furnishes a firm and stable support for the piano during all of such operations; and

to embody these several desirable features in a construction of simple character capable of being made by any skilled mechanic from relatively cheap materials.

In the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated byway of example, and in such drawings: 6

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the truck showing the case supporting rack in normal or horizontal position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the truck with the parts disposed as in Fig. 1 with the case P of a grand piano, indicated in broken lines, mounted upon the rack; a I

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the case carrying rack as tipped into substantially vertical position, the piano case P being shown in broken lines; 7

Fig.5 is a fragmentary vertical section to somewhat larger scale substantially upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section to larger scale on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring tothe drawings the truck is shown as comprising a base having spaced substantially parallel ends 1 and 2 respec tively, each of said ends comprising a substantially horizontal base member 1 extending from front to rear and provided with an upwardly and preferably forwardly inclined supporting post 5. The posts 5 are suitably braced by means of inclined struts 7.

The ends 1 and 2 of the frame are held in properly spaced relation to receive a piano case between them by means of longitudinally extending rails 8,. 9, and respeetively, the rail 8 being secured to the posts 5 near their upper ends while the rails 9 and 10 are disposed at opposite sides of the posts near their points of connection to the base member 4. The horizontal dimensions of the base of the truck should obviously be as small as practical, consistent with stability, in order to attain the principal objects of the invention. The base members 4: are preferably provided with casters 11 or other suitable anti-friction supports.

The upper ends of the posts 5 are furnished with aligned bearings 12-for the reception of pivot pins 13, carried by plates 1%, the position of the axis defined, by pivots 13 being such that when as hereinafter described the piano case is disposed vertically its projected area in plan will fall within the periphery of the base of thetruck. With this object in view the aXis is preferably disposed nearer to the rear of the truck than to the front thereof to provide space in front of the axis at least equal in horizontal width to the vertical thickness of the horizontally positioned case.

The plates 14 are secured to the opposite ends respectively of the cross bar 15 of a rack of substantially T shape having the transverse member 16. Preferably the pivots 13 are so arranged relatively to the member 15 that the forward edge of the latter is to the rear of the axial line of the pivots 13.

The rear end of the member 16 of the rack is supported when in its normal horizontal. position by means'of a leg 17 connected to the member 16 by means of a hinge 18 and provided at its lower end with a caster or other antifriction device 19.

A link 20 is pivotally connected at 21 to the leg 17'near' the lower end of the latter. This link extends upwardly and forwardly and ,is connected atits forward end at the point 22 to a block 23 disposed between the rails 9 and 10 and substantially midway the lengths of the latter. In order toprevent accidental swinging of the rack a hook 25 may be provided at; the upper end of the leg 17 such hook being engageable with apin or eye carried bythe rear part of the member 16 of the rack.

p The member 16 is provided at a suitable point intermediate its ends with a vertical elongate slot 26 and with transverse grooves 27 in its upper surface at the region of the slot. A clamping block 28 is mounted upon the upper face of the member 16, such block being provided with a transverse tooth or rib 29 optionally engageable with any of the slots 27. The block may be held in ad:

justed position by means of a bolt 30 having a thumb nut 51 at its lower end engageable with the under surface of the member 16 at the opposite sides of the slot. The block 28 is furnished with a rearwardly projecting overhanging lip 31 providing a recess 32 for the reception of the forward edge of the rear bottom board 34- of the piano case. This member 34 may form a permanent part of the caseor may be inserted temporarily during the building of the piano.

Blocks 35 and 36 respectively are secured to the cross bar 15 of the raclnsuch blocks being flush with the upper surface of the bar 15 and projecting forwardly beyond the forward face of the bar to provide overhanging ears or lugs adapted to engage over the rear edge of the key bed 37 of the piano case as shown in Fig. 6. If, desired such blocks may be made adjustable as to the degree of their overhang.

In mounting the piano case upon the frame, the rackis disposed in the position shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The rear edge of the key bed 37 of the case is disposed beneath the projecting edges of the blocks 35 and 36 and the clamping block 28 is then adjusted to the proper position relatively to the bar 16 so as to cause the rearwardly projecting lip 31 to engage snugly over the forward edge of the bottom board of the case. The thumb nut 81 is then tightened thus retaining the case securely in position upon the rack. I

During the process of making the piano it sometimes happens that a considerable weight is placed upon the overhanging forward end of the piano case and as an additional means for supporting such weight and preventing undesired tipping of the rack the struts 7 are preferably provided with brackets 38 supporting pivoted arms 39 which may be swung beneath the forward end of the case to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 so as to support the case and prevent it from tipping downwardly.

The various operations included in the completion of the piano will usually becarried out with the case occupying the pos tion shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 but if 1t should be found more convenient to have the piano case in substantially vertical position during some of such operations or in the event that the unfinished piano must be moved from place to place through relatively narrow doorways or passages or must be stored intermediate the various operations, the hook 25 is disconnected from its cooperating pin or eye, the arms 39 are swung to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the entire rack together with the case supported thereon may readily be swung about the axis of the pivot pin 13 to the substan tially vertical position shown in Fig. 4. To retain the rack in this position a hook 24 may be provided for engagement with a pin or eye carried by the member 16 of the rack as shown in Fig. 4. I As the rack is swung upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4 the pivotal connections 21 between the links 20 and the leg 17 swing forwardly through the plane connecting the axis of the hinge 18 with the pivotal connections 22 securing the lower ends of the links 20' to the block 23. The leg 17 and the links 20 thus act in the manner of-a toggle to oppose accidental return of the rackto its horizontal position. This action is further opposed by the fact that the center of gravity of the rack and case when in a position shown in Fig. 4 is forward of the vertical plane of the axis of the pivots 13 so that when in this position the pivotally supported parts are in stable equilibrium. On the other hand when the case is in horizontal position the center of gravity of the rack and ease lies to the rear of the vertical plane of the axis so that in this position the parts are in stable equilibrium.

The position of the member 16 of the rack is such relatively to the length of the cross bar 15 that the clamping block 28 which constitutes the sole support for the weight of the case when disposed in the position shown in Fig. 4, lies substantially above the truck so that they are substantially protected except at their forward edges. To protect such edges against injury a guard member 40 is hinged at 41 to the forward ends of the base members 4. This guard member extendstransversely across the err tire width of the truck and may be swung up into the position shown in Fig. 4 where it isheld by means of hooks 42. Then the case is to be tipped back to horizontal position the guard member 40 is unhooked and dropped down to the position shown in Fig. 3 Where it does not interfere with the upward movement of the case. Instead of hinging the guard member 40 it may be secured to the truck in any other desired manner, for example, by providing it with pins at its opposite ends engagingsuitable slots in brackets or other members carried by the ends of the truck frame. y

The truck thus constructed is capable of sup-porting piano cases of varying sizes in either horizontal or substantially vertical position withoutnecessitating the provision of temporary attachments or the making of openings in the piano case. The under side of thekey bed of the case is fully exposed when the case occupies its horizontal position so that any necessary finishing operations may be carried out without difficulty. The case may be swung into a substantially vertical position where it occupies relatively little floor space, thus permitting it to be moved' readily through narrow passages or to be stored compactly. The entire device may readily be' made from ordinary materials by any skilled mechanic, while at the same time it is of strong and sturdy construction. capable of use for long periods without the necessity for repairs or replacements.

While one specific construction has herein been illustrated it is contemplated that various modifications as well as changes in the shapes, dimensions, and materials employed may be made tion.

We claim i 1. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufacture compriswithin the scope of the inven- 'ing a base and a rack carried thereby, means mounted upon the rack specifically designed to engage portions of the case of a grand piano whichare not to receive a polish and detachably to secure the case to the rack, and pivotal connections between the rack and base permitting the rack with a piano case mounted thereon to swing from a horizontal to a substantially vertical position,

the axis of the rack being disposed so much nearer to one edge of the base than to the opposite edge that when the rack is swung to vertical position all portions thereof are vertically above the base, and means forming an auxiliary support for the rack when the latter is horizontally disposed.

2. A piano truck comprising a base, an elongate rack pivoted adjacent to one of its ends to swing about a horizontal axis disposed above and between the front and rear edges of the base, securing means closely adj acent to the pivotal axis of the rack engageable with a member located at the forward part of agrand piano case, and additional securing means near the free end of the rack engageable with a member at the rear part of the piano case.

. 3. A piano truck comprising a rack wider at its front than at its rear end, means pivotally supporting the rack to swing about a horizontal axis adjacent to its front end, attaching means near the pivotal axis of the rack for engagement with the front part of the case of a grand piano, and relatively adjustable means near the narrow end of the rack for engagement with the rear part of the piano case. 4

4. A piano truck comprising a T-shaped rack having a lug projecting from the edge of its transverse member and engageable with the rear portion of the key bed of a grand piano case, and a clamping member mounted upon the longitudinal member of the rack and engageable with another part of the case.

5. A piano truck comprising a T-shaped rack, the cross bar of the rack having means for positioning the rear edge of the key bed of a grand piano ease, the longitudinal member of the rack being provided with spaced notches, and a clamping member having a part engageable with any of said notches for varying its distance from the cross bar of the rack, said clamping memher being constructed and arranged to engage a portion of the case detachably to secure the latter to the rack.

6. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufacture, said truck comprising awheeled base, the front to rear width of the base being but little greater than the vertical thickness of a grand piano case, pivot means supported by the base providing a pivotal axis for a case supporting rack, the pivotal axis'of the rack being substantially in line with the forward edge of the rack, the rack being provided with means adapted to engage a bottom member of the case of a grand piano case overhanging the rack, the rack being tiltable about its axis to carry the case from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, the center of gravity of the case when in the latter position being at the opposite side of the'vertical plane of the axis about which the rack swings from that which it occupies when the rack is horizontal, and a folding leg for supporting one end of the rack when horizontally positioned.

7. A piano truck comprising an upright frame, a rack pivotally mounted upon the frame, the pivotal axis of the rack being adjacent to one of its edges, and means for securing a grand piano case to the rack with the entire key bed of the case overhanging the pivotal edge of the rack.

8. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufacture comprising spaced ends each having a substantially horizontal base member, a post secured to each of said base members adjacent to the rear end of saidbase member, a strut secured to each base member and to the corresponding post for bracing the latter, longitudinally extending rails connecting the posts, a rack pivotally mounted to swing between the posts about a substantially horizontal axis which is nearer to the rear ends of the base members than to their front ends, and clamping-devices constructed and arranged to engage parts at the under side of the case of a grand piano for securing the latter to the rack.

9. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufacture, said truck comprising a frame, a rack pivotally secured thereto, said rack being normally disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, clamps designed to engage bottom members of the case of a grand piano for detachably securing it to the rack with the front edge of the case substantially parallel to the axis of the rack, a folding leg for supporting that portion of the rack remote from its pivotal axis when it is horizontally disposed, and means for locking said leg either in folded or extended position.

10. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufactune, said truck comprising spaced, parallel base mem-' bers each provided with anti-friction supports, an upright carried by each base member, rails connecting the respective uprights to provide a rigid frame, a rack having aligned pivot members journalled in bearings at the tops of the respective uprights, the axis of the rack being nearer to the rear ends of the base members than to their front ends, said rack comprising a part extending transversely to its pivotal axis, a pivoted leg carried by the latter part of the rack for supporting it in horizontal position, a pivoted brace for the leg, and means engageable with surfaces of the ease of a grand piano which are not to be polished for detachably securing the case to the rack with its key bed overhanging the axis of the rack.

11. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufacture, said truck comprising a piano case rack, a frame supporting one end of the rack, a leg normally supporting the other end of the rack, the front to rear width of said frame being but slightly greater than the vertical thickness of the piano c'ase, pivotal means connecting the rack to the frame and the leg to the rack, and means designed to engage the key bed and another bottom member respectively of the case of a grand piano for detachably securing such case to the rack, the axis of the rack being so disposed relatively to the supporting frame that the projected area in plan of the rack and case when swung sub stantially to vertical position lies wholly within the contour of the frame.

12. A piano truck comprising a normally horizontal rack, means for detachably securing the case of a grand piano to the rack, a supporting frame, means pivotally connecting one end of the rack to the frame, a leg hinged to the other end of the rack, and a link connecting the lower part of the leg to the frame.

13. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufacture, said truck comprising a normally horizontal rack, means designed to engage bottom parts of the case of a grand piano for detachably securing it to the rack, a supporting frame, pivotal means connecting the rack to the frame permitting the rack to swing into a substantially vertical position, a leg piv- .otally connected to the rack, a brace link for the leg, said leg and link being so constructed and arranged that as the rack approaches a vertical position the brace assumes a posi-' tion such as to oppose the return of the rack to horizontal position.

14. A factory truck for supporting pianos during the process of manufacture, said truck comprising a normally horizontal rack, means designed to engage surfaces of the case of a grand piano which are not to be polished whereby to attach the case to the rack, a supporting frame, pivots connecting the rack to the frame permitting the rack to swing to a substantially vertical position, and a toggle linkage tending to oppose return of the rack to horizontal position after it has swung substantially to vertical position.

15. A piano truck comprising a normally horizontal rack, a supporting frame, pivotal connections between the rack and frame, means for securing a grand piano case to the rack with its key bed overhanging one edge of the rack, and a retractable stop carried by the frame engageable with the overhangvof a grand piano case for attaching it to the rack with its key bed end overhanging the pivotal aXis of the rack, the rack being capable of swinging to a storage position wherein the horizontal profile of the case lies within the contour of the frame and between the ends of the latter, and a guard for protecting the forward edges of the case when so positioned, said guard being movable from protecting position so as to permit the rack with the piano case thereon to swing from horizontal position to said storage position, and means for retaining the guard in protecting position.

17. A piano truck comprising a frame having spaced ends between which a piano case may be positioned, means connecting the ends of the frame and constituting a guard for the rear side of the case, and a movable board having its opposite ends supported by the ends of the frame and arranged to overlap the front side of the case when so positioned to protect the latter.

18. A piano truck comprising a frame having spaced ends connected by a longitudinally extending rail,a normally horizontal rack pivoted upon the frame, means carried by the rack for securing a piano r case thereto, the rack being capable of rocking about its pivotal axis to swing the forward portion of the piano case downwardly and between the ends of the frame, and a board hinged to the frame and adapted to swing upwardly over the forward part of the piano case when in the latter position to protect it from injury.

Signed by us at Boston, Massachusetts, this 8th day of August, 1924.

WVILLIAM C. STEPHENSON. HENRY G. OSTERBERG. 

